Trending Now - Conan O'brien Reflects on Late-night Show's Challenges
WHO:
Conan O'Brien, comedian and former late-night host
Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert"
Jimmy Kimmel, host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Brendan Carr, head of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media
Gayle King, CBS News anchor
John Mulaney, comedian
Rob and Michele Reiner, friends of O'Brien, who were murdered
Nick Reiner, charged with the murder of his parents
WHAT:
O'Brien's appearance on "Hot Ones" received over 15 million views.
CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" in May 2026.
Kimmel's show was pulled off the air in September 2025 after controversial remarks.
O'Brien is hosting the Oscars on March 15th, 2026, for the second consecutive year.
O'Brien signed a $150 million deal for his podcast at SiriusXM.
O'Brien hosted "Late Night" from 1993 to 2009 and "Conan" from 2010 to 2021.
WHERE:
The Oscars will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
O'Brien's podcast is produced at Team Coco's headquarters in Hancock Park, Los Angeles.
WHEN:
O'Brien's "Hot Ones" episode aired in April 2024.
CBS announced the cancellation of Colbert's show in July 2025.
Kimmel's show was suspended in September 2025.
O'Brien's first Oscars hosting was on March 2nd, 2025.
The murder of Rob and Michele Reiner occurred on February 24th, 2026.
WHY:
O'Brien believes late-night shows are in trouble due to changing viewer preferences and financial decisions.
CBS cited financial reasons for the cancellation of Colbert's show, denying it was related to the merger with Skydance Media.
Kimmel's comments about Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin led to outrage and a brief suspension of his show.
HOW:
O'Brien prepares for performances by workshopping material with his writers and performing surprise sets.
Kimmel's show was pulled after major affiliate owners withdrew airings due to his comments.
(UPDATED March 10, 2026 05:20 UTC)
In a shocking turn of events, the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner has led to their son, Nick Reiner, being charged with the crime just weeks after the tragic incident on February 24. Meanwhile, Conan O'Brien's recent appearance on "Hot Ones" has garnered over 15 million views, and he is set to host the Oscars for the second consecutive year on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. In other news, CBS has announced the cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" due to financial reasons, while Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended last September following controversial remarks.